Fuel Cell Anode Mass Flow Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel cell systems lack an effective method to determine instantaneous hydrogen consumption from the tank mass flow without additional sensors, especially in dynamic operating situations like those in fuel cell vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A method that balances material flows into and out of the anode circuit to determine the tank mass flow, utilizing existing sensors and accounting for hydrogen consumption based on electrical current and anode exhaust gas, allowing for the calculation of instantaneous hydrogen consumption without pressure or mass flow sensors between the pressure reservoir and anode circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors (mass flow sensors and/or pressure sensors) are arranged between the pressure reservoir and anode circuit to determine instantaneous hydrogen consumption, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing sensors (mass flow sensor and pressure sensor downstream of the jet pump, along with current sensors) to self-determine the tank mass flow through material flow balancing calculations, eliminating the need for additional sensors in the anode supply path between the pressure reservoir and anode circuit
Solution Approach 2:
A control unit acts as an intermediary that performs material flow balancing calculations using data from existing sensors to indirectly determine the tank mass flow, serving as a virtual sensor that replaces physical sensors in the critical measurement path
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are installed to measure tank mass flow, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages existing sensors and computational capabilities to self-determine tank mass flow through material flow balancing, eliminating the need for expensive additional sensors and reducing overall system manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of physically copying the measurement function with additional sensors, the system creates a virtual copy through computational modeling and material flow balancing that replicates the measurement capability using existing sensor data
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate determination of tank mass flow, reducing system complexity and cost by eliminating the need for additional sensors, and providing real-time consumption data for driver feedback and range forecasting.
Implementation Method 1
convey the recirculation gas by means of a jet pump to which the hydrogen is supplied on the pressure side as propellant gas stream
Implementation Method 2
electrochemical oxidation of H2 into protons H+ with release of electrons
Implementation Method 3
reduction of O2 to O2− with gain of electrons
Implementation Method 4
Protons are transported (in a water-bound or water-free manner) from the anode chamber into the cathode chamber across the electrolyte or membrane
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system and a correspondingly configured fuel cell system, comprising a fuel cell stack, an anode supply with a hydrogen reservoir, an anode supply path connecting the hydrogen reservoir to the fuel cell stack, a recirculation path connecting a fuel cell outlet to the anode supply path, and a conveying device for conveying recirculated anode exhaust gas. The method provides for a tank mass flow supplied from the hydrogen reservoir to the anode circuit to be determined by balancing the material flows supplied to and discharged from the anode circuit, wherein the tank mass flow enters the balancing as a material flow supplied to the anode circuit.